Photographic developing apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 2 l1903.

No. 730,091. I R. L. CHAMBERLAINE.

PHTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17,1903. l

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110.730,091. l PATENTED.JUNB2,1903. y

R. L. GHAMBERLAINE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIoN FILED M1111. 17. 1003.

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No. l730,091.

UNirnn STATES Patented .Tune 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 30,091, dated June-2, 1903. Application filed March 17, 1903. Serial No. 148,139. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT LLOYD CHAM- BERLAINE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Photographic Developing Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to an improved photographic developing apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and improvedapparatus of this character by means of which sensitized surfaces may bedeveloped without the aid of a dark room.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means by whichthe developing solution is brought into contact with the sensitizedsurface without the use of trays.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby platesmay be taken out and also put into holders and developed without the aidof a dark room.

Another object is to provide a device which may readily be carriedabout, by means of which a plate orother sensitized surface may bedeveloped immediately after having been exposed in the camera, no matterwhether the operator be in the iield or indoors, and, further, toprovide an apparatus of such construction that the numerous trays andother developing paraphernalia now necessary are entirely dispensedwith.

With these and other objects in view the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which show one form of apparatus for carrying thesame into practical effect without limiting the invention, however, tothe precise construction shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1. illustrates a perspective view of theapparatus as the same appears when in use. Fig. 2 illustrates -a centralvertical section of same. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal cross-section takenjust beneath the top. Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of theplates which form the liquid-chamber, and Fig. 5 illustrates avertie-alsectional View of the device when notin use and shows how the parts arepacked when being carried out.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a case of anydesirable size or shape and which may be constructed of any suitablematerial. In the present instance this case is provided at one side witha frame 2, having an opening 3, and a door or flap 4 is hinged orpivoted to the lower portion of said frame 2, and when desired may beswung upto close the opening 3. The inner surface 5 of the door or Hapis preferably polished or provided with some suitable material .whichwill serve as a reflector to direct the light, if desired, into theopening 3. `A bead 6 extends around the frame 2 in said opening andserves as a stop against which the door or flap abuts when the latter isclosed.

A frame 7 is pivoted at the upperend S on the interior of the case, andsaid pivoted frame hangs pendent and has a position confronting theopening 3. At the lower or free end said pivoted frame is provided witha thu rnb-screw 9, which latter passes loosely through said frame andscrews into the stationary frame 2. A plurality of springs 10 aresecured to said pivotedA frame 7, and the free ends of said springsproject toward the opening 3 in the case. This frame 7 is provided witha central opening 11, which is for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. At the rear or the side opposite from the opening 3 the caselk is provided with an opening 12, which in the presentinstanceextendsin a horizontal or crosswise direction nearly the entire width ofthe case and in a vertical direction from the top about half-way towardthe bottom. The size and location of'this opening, however, are notessential, and the same may be varied; but it is preferably at the rear.At each side of the opening 12 isa door 13, each of which is hinged tothe case and adapted to swing toward each other and close the saidopening. This opening 12 is surrounded by a suitable flexible material14, such as kid, which is secured to the frame 15, and this iieXiblematerial'is provided with two openings 16, one for each eye of theoperator. A semicircular band 17, also of suitable flexible material, issecured to the material 14, and at each end 1S said band is secured tothe free ends of the doors 13, and this band is also provided withopenings which register with the openings 16 in the material 14. Beneaththe openings 16 the band is provided with suitable pads 19, which adaptor make the band fit close to the face of the operator IOO when thelatter is looking through said openings 16 and prevent the admission oflight into the case. A shut-ter 20 is pivoted at its upper end on theinterior of the case, and said shutter hangs pendent over the opening l2and serves to cut 0E the rays of light from the interior of the case. Athumb-nut2l on the exterior of the case is secured to the shutter 20,and the latter may be swung upwardly thereby.

The case l at the bottoni is provided on its interior with a recess22,which extends around said bottom and near the lower edge 23 thereof.A pluralityof turn-buttons have position on the bottom of the caseadjoining said edge 23 and serve a purpose which will now be described.

A sleeve 24, of some suitable close-Woven light-tight fabric, andpreferably being larger at one end than at the other, is secured at itslarger end to a band 25, which latter may be of metal, and said band isadjusted to beinserted in the recess 22 at the bottom of the case, andsaid band and sleeve are held in position in said recess by means of theturnbuttons which take beneath the band, as shown in Fig. 2. The smallerend of the sleeve 24 is provided with a strap 26, by means of which itmay be secured around the wrist of the operator. It is obvious that inplace -of the strap 26 an elastic cord or band may be substituted.

Pivoted at 27 on the interior of the case and near the bottom thereofare two arms or supports 28, one at each side of the case, and each ofthese supports at its lower end 29 is pivoted to a tray 30, and thesesupports serve to hold the case in proper position above the tray. Whenthe device is not in use and is closed up, as seen in Fig. 5, the tray3G swings up into the case and serves as a bottom for the latter, thesupports 28 assuming the position shown by broken lines.

The tray 30 is preferably lined with some water-tight material 3l andserves as a base for the instrument and also as a receptacle to catchany drops of liquid that may possibly drip from the tube during thechanging of the developing solutions.

lt will be seen from the foregoing description that provision has beenmade for rendering the interior of the case light-proof by providing atthe several openings devices for cutting olf the admission of light.This is essential, for reasons obvious to those skilled in the art ofphotography and need not be explained.

A glass plate 32 has position in the front of the case l between thestationary frame 2 and the pivoted frame 7, and this glass plate 32 istinted or colored rubyand is practically impervious to actinic light,which latter is well known to be injurious to photographic plates, andthis plate 32 is provided on its interior and around its edge with agasket 33. In the present instance the plate 32 is also provided indiametrically opposite corners with holes 34 and 35, and two tubes 3Gand 37 are secured one in each of said holes. When in position withinthe case that side of the glass plate 32 from which the tubes areinserted contacts with the bead 6 and the tubes project through theopening 3 of the frame 2. The tube 36 projects on the top of the caseand is sustained by a screw-stem 38, and the end of said tube isprovided with a bulb 39 or equivalent device. The tube 37 projects fromsaid glass plate 32 and hangs pendent and projects into a bottle orreceptacle 40, Vcontaining developing solution. The

lslots 4l in the door or flap 4 permit the tubes to pass.

The description up to this point relates to the construction of theapparatus complete and ready forr treating a sensitized photographicsurface, and it will now be explained how the surface to be developed isheld and treated.

The following description will make use of the expression plate or isensitized plate but it is to be understood that while the treatment ofa plate will be described the invention is not to be limited to thetreatment of plates, but may also be utilized for developing films orother sensitized surfaces.

The sensitized plate 42, having previously been exposed in a camera? isplaced in the case l, with the sensitive surface 43 confronting thegasket 33 and the tinted plate 32, and this plate 42 is pressed forwardagainst said gasket by the springs l0 on the pivoted frame 7. Saidsprings l0 press against the glass side 44 of said plate as the screw 9is turned and seat the plate 42 firmly against the gasket 33 and make aliquid-tight joint and also form a chamber 45 between said plates 32 and42. This chamber 45 is the developing-solution chamber, andcommunication thereto is made through the tubes 36 and 37. It will beseen that the surface to be developed forms one side of the chamber 45.It will be seen that when the plate 42 is pressed against the gasket 33and the chamber 45 is formed liquid may be drawn from the bottle byoperating the bulb 39, and the chamber is thereby filled with solution,which contacts with and acts on the sensitive surface of the plate 42.

When the device is not in use and closed, as shown in Fig. 5, thebottles 40, containing the developing solutions and wrapped togetherwithother loose parts,are conveniently packed within the case.

The operation is as follows: The tray is withdrawn from the interior ofthe case and the bottles, sleeve, and other articles removed. The flap 4is then lowered and the ruby glass, with the tubes, is placed inposition. The flap is then closed and the sleeve is attached at thebottom, as described. The

holder containing the plate to be developed is now inserted into thesleeve and the strap is drawn around the wrist of the operator in Theoperator now order to exclude the light.

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grasps the holder with the free hand from the exterior of the sleeve,and with the hand on the interior withdraws the slide of the holder,removes the plate, and places its sensitive side against the gasket onthe ruby glass bottom and in front of the frame '7. The pivoted frame isnow lowered, and when about in a vertical position the fiat springs lOtake against the non-sensitive or glass side 44 of said plate and pressthe same outward against the said gasket 33. The thumb-screw 9 is nowentered into the stationary frame 2 and serves to draw the pivoted frametoward the glass side 44 of the plate and firmly seat same against thegasket, so asto form a liquid-chamber 45.v It will thus be seen that thesurface to be developed forms one side of the developing-chamber. Theoperator may now fold or grasp the sleeve with the free hand to excludelight, so as to remove the other hand and the holder. The developingoperation may now be commenced. The case is swung up on the pivotedsupports and clamped at any convenient angle. One tube is inserted inthe developing-solution receptacle, and to the other a bulb or othersuction apparatus is attached. Upon the compression of the bulb and therelease of the Vsame it can be readily seen that the solution will bedrawn up through the tube 37 into the chamber and partly into tube 36,the quantity depending upon the amount of compression given the bulb.The operator now opens the doors'and places his face closely against theflexible band,his eyes registering with the holes. This band beingattached to the hinged doors will hug the face and prevent reflectedlight from getting through the eyeholes. The operator now opens theshutter by the thumb-nut and observes the progress of development.Slight compression and release of the bulb now causes the liquid to falland rise, and what is known as local development can be carried on tosome extent-that is, the lower portion of the plate can be given moredevelopment than the upper. It can be readily seen that the operatorstime need not be taken up entirely by this operation, as an occasionalglance will suffice. By this construction and operation the danger ofair-bubbles forming on the sensitive side of the plate 42 is entirelyobviated, and the surface 43 of said plate is thoroughly covered.Another advantage arising from this construction is that if there shouldbe any undissolved particles in the developing solutionthese would fallto the bottom and not remain in contact with the sensitive surface 43and canse pin-holes and defects in the negative. When the plate issufficiently developed, the bulb is compressed to expel the liquid, andthe receptacle then removed and another receptacle of a differentsolution is substituted to carry on the next step in developing. Whenthe plate has been developed and Xed,it can then be removed by merelyreversing the operation. This, however, may be accomplished as theoperator desires, as some may prefer to remove the sleeve and remove thedeveloped plate through thel bottom of the case. When a plate has beendeveloped in the field, the washing process may be postponed, in whichcase the developed plate may remain in position against the gasket ofthe tinted plate and keep in a moist condition for hours.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of alight-tight case provided with a receptacle open at one side; meansadjacent the open side of said receptacle to hold a sensitive surface tobe developed, and means for introducing liquid into said receptacle.

2. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case; areceptacle closing one end of said case and having a ltransparent wall;means for holding a sensitive surface at one side of said receptacle,and means whereby liquid may be introduced into said receptacle betweensaid transparent wall and said sensitive surface after the latter hasbeen put into place.

3. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination ofalight-tight case; a receptacle; means whereby a sensitive surface maybe clamped to said receptacle and the latter thereby made liquid-tight,and means for introducing liquid from the exterior of the case and intosaid receptacle.

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4. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case openat one side 5 a receptacle in said case at said open side, saidreceptacle adapted to contain a sensitive surface to be developed; aframe for holding said receptacle in place; and means for in# troducingliquid into said receptacle.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case openat one side; a receptacle in said case at said open side, saidreceptacle adapted to contain a sensitive surface to be developed; aframe pivoted within said case and adapted to clamp the wall of saidreceptacle to hold the latter in said open end, and means forintroducingliquid from the exterior of said case into said receptacle.

6. In aphotographic developing apparatus the combination ot' alight-tight case open at one side; a receptacle at the open side of saidcase, said receptacle having a transparent exterior wall provided at oneside with a gasket, against which latter a sensitized surface may beplaced; means whereby said transparent wall and a surface to bedeveloped may be clamped together to'form a tight4 chamber, and meansfor introducing liquid into said receptacle. 1

7. In a photographic developing apparatus IIO the combination of a caseopen at one side; a

vclosed by a sensitive surface to be developed to form a chamber; a tubeleading from said receptacle to the exterior of the casel for developingsolution, and another tube also, in communication with said receptacleand by means of which the developing solution may be introduced intosaid receptacle.

8. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination ofa case; areceptacle in said case; a bottom pivoted With respect to and supportingsaid case, and means for introducing liquid from the exterior of saidcase into said receptacle.

9. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case openat one side; a transparent receptacle fitting in the open side of saidcase; a combined tray and bottom, and two supports pivoted at one end tosaid case and at the other end each of said supports being pivoted tosaid tray and bottom.

10. In a photographie developing apparatus, the combination of a case; areceptacle in said case and adapted to contain a sensitive surface to bedeveloped, and means for introducing liquid into said receptacle byexhausting the air therefrom.

11. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case; areceptacle in said case and provided with two openings, and means forexhausting the air from said receptacle through one of said openings andthereby introducing liquid through the other opening.

12. In a photographic developing apparatus having in combination a caseopen at opposite sides; a transparent developing-receptacle closing oneof said sides, and a shutter closing the other side of said case.

13. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a caseopen at the rear and provided with swinging doors at said rear opening;a fabric band secured at each end to one of said doors, said band havingone or more eye-openings, and a shutter on the interior of said case andin front of said doors.

14. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a caseopen at the rear; means for closing the case at the rear, comprising aflexible material having one or more openings for the eyes; a shutter onthe interior of said case and in front of said eye-openings and atransparent developing-receptacle in said case in front of said shutter.

15. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a caseopen at the front; adoor adapted to close the front of said case andhaving a surface for reflecting light into said case and a transparent.developingreceptacle in said case near said door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

ROBERT LLOYD CIIAMBERLAINE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., G. FERDINAND Voer.

